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What? How did America and its "shortcomings" enter into the conversation? Neither the parent nor the article made any such allusion.

by mahmud 16y ago

Mz 16y ago
I was replying to this remark: Wind towers are part of Middle East heritage and I always wonder why they've gone into building all those a/c energy wasting offices, malls and homes, instead of simply adopting this technology from the start. I didn't say anything about "shortcomings". When I used the word "short-sighted", I meant that Americans tend to have a short-term time frame in mind. For example, American companies tend to focus on the next quarter. In contrast, Japanese companies tend to have a 10 year plan. I've had foreign friends or American friends who lived for some years in an older country/culture. They think different than the typical American. They have a longer view than is the norm here. Also, I don't see how remarking that there are good things and bad things about a particular approach is some kind of attack..or some such.
- mahmud 16y ago
  Oh, I see your point. However, "technology fetishism" is not a U.S. specific phenomenon, so making the conversation about American comes off as parochial, and is off putting. FWIW, foresight is not a Japanese only quality, and to be frank, Japanese culture has its own technology obsessions that would seem weird to anyone who chooses to see Japan strictly through the "robot wife" lens ;-)
  - Mz 16y ago
    At this point, I am simply baffled at how you are interpreting my remarks. Japan having a long view is just an example and was followed by this comment: I've had foreign friends or American friends who lived for some years in an older country/culture. They think different than the typical American. (For clarity's sake, I don't think Japan plays a big role in such personal experiences. Europe and the Middle East play much bigger roles.) Again, I was replying to a remark/question by another member. I think the fact that American culture is highly influential globally is relevant (for example: the city is compared in the article to Disney's Magic Kingdom). I don't see how that observation is "parochial" or "off-putting". Peace.
- yummyfajitas 16y ago
  For example, American companies tend to focus on the next quarter. In contrast, Japanese companies tend to have a 10 year plan. This is a commonly repeated trope, but I don't think it's true. The time frame a company targets is primarily a function of it's business model, not it's country of origin. Many US companies have a long term (30+ year) focus; Pharma (long drug development cycles), some Big Tech (Oracle, IBM focus on relationships with big business), many financial companies (Berkshire and Lehman Brothers make long term bets in securities markets) and all oil companies (finding oil takes time). Most companies with a short term focus primarily focus on rapidly changing markets. Apple is is focused on building a shiny version of whatever is hot right now (or about to be hot) and Goldman is focused on short term speculation/services. It's not hard to think of foreign companies with a short term focus - L'Oreal (next big thing in cosmetics) and Bandai (next big thing in toys) are two such examples.
  - Mz 16y ago
    This is a commonly repeated trope, but I don't think it's true. Thanks. I know it is a commonly repeated trope, which is why I gave it as an example -- knowing that someone was likely to argue the specific example but hoping it would suffice as an example of the point I was making. Relying heavily on AC strikes me as a short-term view kind of solution. It is cheaper (in the long run) and more effective to rely more heavily on passive solar design.
    - yummyfajitas 16y ago
      If the phenomenon you are describing is real, why can't you find a real example of it?
      - Mz 16y ago
        Maybe because I spent 14 hours yesterday throwing up, so I'm not exactly at my best. Besides, I think I did give a real example of it: Personal firsthand experience with individuals I have known. However, I know that anecdotal evidence is not generally considered strong evidence, so I tried to also reference something commonly said in hopes that would be better understood/accepted. Apparently, those hopes were in vain.

What? How did America and its "shortcomings" enter into the conversation? Neither the parent nor the article made any such allusion.

by mahmud 16y ago

What? How did America and its "shortcomings" enter into the conversation? Neither the parent nor the article made any such allusion.

Mz 16y ago

I was replying to this remark: Wind towers are part of Middle East heritage and I always wonder why they've gone into building all those a/c energy wasting offices, malls and homes, instead of simply adopting this technology from the start. I didn't say anything about "shortcomings". When I used the word "short-sighted", I meant that Americans tend to have a short-term time frame in mind. For example, American companies tend to focus on the next quarter. In contrast, Japanese companies tend to have a 10 year plan. I've had foreign friends or American friends who lived for some years in an older country/culture. They think different than the typical American. They have a longer view than is the norm here. Also, I don't see how remarking that there are good things and bad things about a particular approach is some kind of attack..or some such.

mahmud 16y ago
Oh, I see your point. However, "technology fetishism" is not a U.S. specific phenomenon, so making the conversation about American comes off as parochial, and is off putting. FWIW, foresight is not a Japanese only quality, and to be frank, Japanese culture has its own technology obsessions that would seem weird to anyone who chooses to see Japan strictly through the "robot wife" lens ;-)
- Mz 16y ago
  At this point, I am simply baffled at how you are interpreting my remarks. Japan having a long view is just an example and was followed by this comment: I've had foreign friends or American friends who lived for some years in an older country/culture. They think different than the typical American. (For clarity's sake, I don't think Japan plays a big role in such personal experiences. Europe and the Middle East play much bigger roles.) Again, I was replying to a remark/question by another member. I think the fact that American culture is highly influential globally is relevant (for example: the city is compared in the article to Disney's Magic Kingdom). I don't see how that observation is "parochial" or "off-putting". Peace.
yummyfajitas 16y ago
For example, American companies tend to focus on the next quarter. In contrast, Japanese companies tend to have a 10 year plan. This is a commonly repeated trope, but I don't think it's true. The time frame a company targets is primarily a function of it's business model, not it's country of origin. Many US companies have a long term (30+ year) focus; Pharma (long drug development cycles), some Big Tech (Oracle, IBM focus on relationships with big business), many financial companies (Berkshire and Lehman Brothers make long term bets in securities markets) and all oil companies (finding oil takes time). Most companies with a short term focus primarily focus on rapidly changing markets. Apple is is focused on building a shiny version of whatever is hot right now (or about to be hot) and Goldman is focused on short term speculation/services. It's not hard to think of foreign companies with a short term focus - L'Oreal (next big thing in cosmetics) and Bandai (next big thing in toys) are two such examples.
- Mz 16y ago
  This is a commonly repeated trope, but I don't think it's true. Thanks. I know it is a commonly repeated trope, which is why I gave it as an example -- knowing that someone was likely to argue the specific example but hoping it would suffice as an example of the point I was making. Relying heavily on AC strikes me as a short-term view kind of solution. It is cheaper (in the long run) and more effective to rely more heavily on passive solar design.
  - yummyfajitas 16y ago
    If the phenomenon you are describing is real, why can't you find a real example of it?
    - Mz 16y ago
      Maybe because I spent 14 hours yesterday throwing up, so I'm not exactly at my best. Besides, I think I did give a real example of it: Personal firsthand experience with individuals I have known. However, I know that anecdotal evidence is not generally considered strong evidence, so I tried to also reference something commonly said in hopes that would be better understood/accepted. Apparently, those hopes were in vain.